The Phoenix is Back - Chapter 102

Chapter 102 Serial Stratagem
Before leaving, Xiao Xiwei turned around to look at Consort Shen, only to see that her expression was somewhat panicked. Obviously, she was unable to calm down.

Now that the Crown Prince had been banned, Duke Zheng was imprisoned, The Duke of Lu and the other ministers knelt down the day and night before Chongde Hall and pleaded for Duke Zheng. However, the Emperor ignored them and deliberately suppressed the Zheng Clan. If it weren’t for the miscellaneous roots of the Zheng Clan’s forces that they had managed over the years, they would have attacked long ago. If news of the collusion between the Northwest and the Northern Desert Tartars were to spread, then the Emperor would probably have lost all of his misgivings …

“Why did you say that to Consort Shen?” Xiao Xi said as he returned to Jing Ren Palace.

“What?”

“Do you really think Consort Shen will believe what you said?” Xiao Xiwei raised his eyebrows and said.

“Perhaps I didn’t believe it in the past, but … it’s hard to say if she still hasn’t rescued Duke Zheng by all means. Besides, Duke Zheng’s heir, Zheng Lin, wasn’t in the Duke Zheng’s mansion when they raided him that night. Most importantly, Duke Zheng has been in trouble for so many days, but he still hasn’t appeared …”

“You’re not saying that the Crown Prince of Zheng has gone to the northwest, are you?” Xiao Xiwei’s eyelids suddenly twitched.

Even though the Emperor had captured Duke Zheng, he still hadn’t been convicted. He was more or less worried about the eldest son of Duke Zheng, Zheng Lu, who was holding the Northwest Horse City. If Zheng Lin went to the northwest to inform Zheng Lu, the Emperor would probably risk everything to get rid of the Duke of Zheng.

“Not at all.” Chu Xizhi pursed the corners of his mouth.

Xiao Xiwei’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. Then, his mind changed and he immediately understood.

If the Emperor made up his mind to get rid of the Duke of Zheng, he would definitely be prepared. Once the Crown Prince of Zheng disappeared, he would immediately think of the possibility that he would go to the northwest to report. At this moment, there would probably be people guarding all the paths to the northwest. Hearing Chu Xizhi say that Zheng Lin did not go to the northwest, it seemed that he was still a smart person.

“So you said those words to Imperial Concubine Shen to deceive her?”

Chu Xizhi pursed his lips and said, “It’s not a lie. Even if Zheng Lin doesn’t go to the northwest, the northwest side will soon know about Duke Zheng’s imprisonment. Not only the northwest side will know, but even the Northern Desert Tartars will know about this news.”

Xiao Xiwei’s eyelids couldn’t help but jump, “You …”

“Wei’er, you know so much. Why don’t you guess where Consort Shen will go when she finds out about this?” Chu Xizhi smiled and blinked at Xiao Xi.

Imperial Concubine Shen, where are you going?

Xiao Xiwei knitted his eyebrows.

The Duke of Zheng’s Mansion had been heavily guarded by the Emperor, and the Crown Prince had also been imprisoned in the Crown Prince’s Mansion. Duke Lu heard that a few days ago, he had brought everyone to plead for mercy and knelt in the Chongde Palace for a day and a night without seeing the Holy Chariot, and Consort Shen herself could not see the Emperor, so the only thing she could find was her adopted son, Chu Yanzhi, who had just been named Prince Shen.

Xiao Xiwei covered his mouth and coughed softly, “Earlier, you deliberately mentioned Chu Yanzhi to me in front of Consort Shen. Could it be that you also wanted to lure Consort Shen to Jing He Palace?”

Ever since Chu Yanzhi was accidentally injured by the Crown Prince and fell from his horse, the Emperor was enraged. Not only did he punish the Crown Prince, but he also asked him to plead for the Crown Prince’s sake. He even made people look at Jing He Palace, not even letting Imperial Consort Shen in.

However, what was the use of that? The Emperor was determined to eliminate the Duke’s Mansion of Zheng Country. Not to mention that Chu Yanzhi would not plead for mercy, even if he pleaded for mercy, the Emperor would not agree.

“Not all of them.” Chu Xizhi looked at Xiao Xi and smiled.

Xiao Xi raised his eyebrows slightly and watched Chu Xizhi purse his lips without saying a word, quietly waiting for his next words.

“The emperor of the northwest horse city had wanted to take back, now something happened in the Duke of Zheng manor, and the Duke of Zheng is likely to go to the northwest, so take back the northwest horse city is imminent, but the Zheng family in the northwest is not small, the only can contend with the Zheng family and not involved with the Zheng family is close to the city of Wu Yong hou. At this moment, Zhongyong Hou should have received the emperor’s secret decree … ”

“So, you want my grandfather to go to the northwest.” Xiao Xiwei’s eyes sank, and his voice became a little cold. “Do you know how old my grandfather is this year? You actually counted him in?”

If the Emperor was bent on praising Chu Yanzhi to ascend the throne, then he would definitely not let this fat job in Northwest Horse City fall into the loyal Marquis Mansion. At that time, his grandfather would probably take back Northwest Horse City with great difficulty, but he would become the next target the Emperor would deal with.

“Xiwei” Seeing Xiao Xiwei’s expression change, Chu Xizhi’s heart panicked. There was no longer the complacency and conceit on his face. He hurriedly reached out to hold her hand. He did not want to, but saw her quickly retreat two steps. “Xiwei, Zhong Yong Hou is your grandfather. How could I let anything happen to him?”

Hearing Chu Xizhi’s words, Xiao Xiwei still stared at him coldly and refused to speak.

Chu Xi hurriedly took a few steps closer to Xiao Xiwei. “Xiwei, do you think the Emperor originally did not want to hand over the horse market in the northwest to Zhongyong Hou? Therefore, as long as the situation in the northwest relaxes slightly, his forces will send people to the northwest. Who do you think this person is?”

This time, Xiao Xiwei’s lips finally moved.

Chu Yanzhi.

In his previous life, Chu Yanzhi had also been ordered to go to the horse market in the northwest.

At that time, nothing happened to the Duke of Zheng Manor. As the adopted son of Consort Shen, Chu Yanzhi was also part of the Crown Prince’s party. Therefore, he went to the Northwest Horse Market only on the surface to answer, but in reality, he used this relationship to find out more about the Northwest. Afterwards, the Crown Prince suffered a series of accidents. The Emperor and Chu Xizhi suppressed the Crown Prince’s party to the extreme. In the end, the Crown Prince had no way. He burned his boat and wanted to let go. However, Chu Xizhi had never expected that the Crown Prince would have the first chance. Later, the Crown Prince would suicide himself in the Crown Prince’s Mansion. Once the Crown Prince died, the Crown Prince Yu Dang could not help but turn to the Fourth Prince Chu Yanzhi. Not long after Chu Yan gained real power, he completely held the Northwest Horse Market in his hands.

Actually, she remembered these things very clearly.

However, she did not associate him with Chu Xizhi’s recent actions.

“Wei’er, think about it. If Chu Yanzhi went to the Northwest Horse Market, what do you think Consort Shen would think?” Seeing that Xiao Xiwei’s expression had eased, Chu Xizhi hurriedly said.

Therefore, Chu Xizhi had deliberately mentioned Chu Xizhi and deliberately said those words to Consort Shen. The real purpose was not to ask Consort Shen to go to Chu Yanzhi to plead for mercy for Duke Zheng, but to implant a seed of suspicion in her heart. As long as Chu Yanzhi left for the northwest, the seed of suspicion in Consort Shen’s heart would break through the ground and sprout. If the Crown Prince fell in the future, it would not be so easy for Chu Yanzhi to take the remaining forces of the Crown Prince for his own use.

If all of her speculations were true, then he had already quietly set up a big picture since he had self-harmed Duke Zheng, and had designed everyone into it. Such thoughts …

That’s horrible.

The coldness in Xiao Xiwei’s clear eyes had just dissipated when a trace of fear appeared again.

This gaze made Chu Xizhi even more panicked. He hurriedly reached out and hugged Xiao Xiwei tightly. His deep voice was a little hoarse, and he said, “Xiwei, don’t look at me like this.”

The tip of his nose was suddenly surrounded by the familiar ambergris, and Chu Xizhi’s steady and rapid heartbeat was banging on her chest.

“Cherish it.” Xiao Xiwei stretched out her hand to embrace Chu Xizhi’s waist and slowly closed her eyes.

A teardrop quietly fell down the corner of her eyes.

In her previous life, she didn’t know anything about this, but it wasn’t until just now that she realized that the path ahead of them was so difficult …

“Wei’er, promise me that no matter what happens, you won’t give up on me, okay?” Chu Xizhi loosened his grip slightly and looked deeply into Xiao Xiwei’s eyes with his eyes lowered.

Xiao Xiwei raised his head and pursed his lips with a smile. Suddenly, he stood on tiptoe and kissed Chu Xizhi’s chin.

Chu Xi was stunned for a moment, then he reached out and pressed down on the back of Xiao Xiwei’s head, lowering his head and kissing heaven and earth …

After a long time, the two of them calmed down.

Xiao Xi leaned against Chu Yanzhi’s chest, and after a long time, she gradually regained her senses.

“But according to what you said, if Chu Yanzhi really went to the northwest, then wouldn’t the horse market in the northwest fall into his hands?”

Chu Xizhi curled his lips and said, “How can it be so easy to get a horse market in the northwest? The Zheng Clan has not operated in the northwest for a year or two. I have already thought of a plan and asked Xi Yang to write a letter to Lord Marquis. I believe that you will soon be able to see your grandfather.” As Xiao Xiyang spoke, he raised his hand and dotingly scratched Xiao Xiwei’s nose.

“You mean” Xiao Xiwei looked at Chu Xizhi hesitantly.

“Zhongyong Hou is getting old. It’s time for him to return to the capital and rest for the rest of his life.” Chu Xizhi said with a smile.

“Are you serious?” Xiao Xi raised her eyebrows slightly, her eyes unable to conceal her excitement and expectation.

If grandfather could return to the capital, then grandmother wouldn’t be so lonely and uncomfortable.

“Naturally.” Chu Xizhi smiled and nodded.

Xiao Xiwei had always believed Chu Xizhi’s words without any doubt. Since he had spoken to her, he must have thought of a way to get his grandfather back to the capital. However …

“If grandfather comes back, then over at Wu City …”

If grandfather wanted to return to the capital to rest for the rest of his life, who would take over the hundred thousand troops in Wu City?

Chu Xizhi smiled, “Guess who the emperor will send to Wu City?”

Xiao Xiwei knitted his eyebrows.

Since Chu Xizhi had already gone to the northwest, it was naturally impossible for her avatar to go to Wu City again. Moreover, her grandfather had been in Wu City for so many years, and she had risked her life and death with the soldiers of Wu City. Her prestige in the army was very high. Sending an ordinary person might not be able to make those soldiers follow loyally, but the best candidate was her brother Xiao Xiyang.

Back then, she had wholeheartedly thought that the Emperor was actually on Chu Xizhi’s side. Therefore, she was very happy that her brother could enter the Yan Cloud Guard and be valued by the Emperor. However, now that she knew the Emperor’s true intentions, she was very worried about her brother. The Emperor’s actions back then were not without the intention of taking Xiao Xi Yang as a hostage.

Thinking of this, Xiao Xi let out a sigh of relief and suddenly remembered something, “Your Highness, you won’t tell me that you were the one who instigated Li Qingfeng to cause trouble back then, right?”

“Madam, you have wronged me!” Chu Xizhi hurriedly waved his hand. “Although I’ve already set up this trap, if I really want to act, this bitter scheme is indispensable. I don’t want to create any complications before I marry you, but who would have thought that they wouldn’t be able to endure it anymore?”

Xiao Xiwei looked at Chu Xizhi’s current vigorous appearance and couldn’t help but smile sweetly, “Judging from your appearance, there shouldn’t be any need for a’bitter plot ‘anymore. Ming’er, I’ll go back.”

“Can’t you stay for a few more days? Lantern Festival is coming in two days.” Chu Xizhi knitted his eyebrows and raised his hand to press down on his chest. “Aiyo, my wound hurts again.”

Xiao Xiwei couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “Alright, stop pretending. I have been in the palace for a few days and I don’t know how things have been in the mansion.”

She wasn’t worried at the side. What she was most worried about was what Qian Xiao, the third concubine mother’s twin brother, had done to her.